Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Race-day recap
Willaidow (Shamus Award) delivered a historic victory for the Conners in the G3 JRA Plate on Saturday, making Mitchell Conners the fourth generation in the family to train a stakes winner.
Artorius's full brother Sixties hit a home run at his first start of the autumn at Rosehill, which has trainer Chris Waller plotting a path to the G1 Australian Guineas.
A fourth return to the G3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes yielded a second victory for tough mare Wrote To Arataki (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) in a move that ignites her autumn preparation.
Robbie Patterson is eyeing back to back G1 New Zealand Oaks after Ultimate Habit (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}) broke her maiden impressively in Trentham's G2 Lowland Stakes.
Morphettville's Listed Durbridge Stakes provided a launchpad for Sghirripa (Lonhro) to bounce back into form and for young jockey Campbell Rawiller to secure the first stakes win of his career.
Willaidow prevails for Conners duo in JRA Plate
Recording his second win at Group 3 level after last February’s G3 Southern Cross Stakes, the ever dependable 7-year-old Willaidow (Shamus Award) secured the G3 JRA Plate at Rosehill on Saturday, scoring a first stakes win as a training partnership for father-son duo Marc and Mitchell Conners. It was also the middle leg of a five-timer for James McDonald in his first book of rides at the track since November.
Queensland raider Zarastro (I Am Invincible) strode to the front early, before The Instructor (Russian Revolution) launched an offensive in the home straight. In the closing stages, McDonald pushed the 7-year-old gelding forward to nab The Instructor on the line by a head, with Zarastro almost a length away in third.
“For a small stable like ours, it's a lot of work,” said Marc Conners. “We have to put in a lot of hours. The team we've got behind us at home are fantastic, the girl who straps him has been with us for five years. These are the wins that are pretty special for us.”
"These are the wins that are pretty special for us." - Marc Conners
It was a particularly proud moment for Marc, as the win cemented his son Mitchell as the fourth generation trainer in the Conners family to train a stakes winner.
“He will remember that for a long time,” Marc said. “He has put the hard yards in. He has done a lot of work. He is driving home from Newcastle today, he got beaten up there, so this will cheer him up."
Willaidow winning the G3 JRA Plate | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“They have done a marvellous job preparing this horse and getting him up and going,” said McDonald. “But at least he executed well. Some think he is just a mad leader, but this just goes to show he can take a sit under the right circumstances.”
"Some think he (Willaidow) is just a mad leader, but this just goes to show he can take a sit under the right circumstances." - James McDonald
Sales: Conners paid just $7000 for Willaidow as a 3-year-old in a March Magic Millions Online Sale, where he was offered by Serena Lodge.
Pedigree: Willaidow is the first foal from Stimulated (Casino Prince), a granddaughter of multiple Group victress Excited Angel (Don’t Say Halo {USA}), from the close family of Group 2 winner Text’N Hurley (Hard Spun {USA}). Stimulated delivered a full sister to Willaidow this past spring.
Connections of Willaidow after winning the G3 JRA Plate | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Guineas goal comes into focus for progressive Sixties
The full brother to Newgate Farm stallion Artorius, 3-year-old colt Sixties (Flying Artie) can start properly plotting a path to the Group 1 Guineas races of the autumn after returning to win first-up in the seventh race on the Rosehill card on Saturday.
Delivering the third win of a five-timer at the venue for Chris Waller, the colt bided his time at the rear of the field in the 1200-metre race where Mogo Magic (Duporth) set a tough pace out front. Zac Lloyd - who rode a double courtesy of Waller-trained Hidrix (Extreme Choice) in the G3 Canonbury Stakes - let the colt fly once straightening, shooting past Mogo Magic with the only challenger being Roselyn’s Star (Shalaa {Ire}). Ultimately Sixties was too slick, winning by a length and three quarters.
"He's a serious colt," said Waller, who sent the colt out to win the G3 Ming Dynasty Stakes in the spring. "We didn't know how the race would play out today, but it worked out perfectly and I'm pleased Zac went back on him. The option was there to go forward if he flew out, but when he didn't he went back and settled, it was a little tricky but he was just good.
"He's (Sixties) a serious colt." - Chris Waller
"He's very versatile."
Connections ARAMCO Racing can now set the colt’s sights on Group 1 ventures for the autumn.
Sixties winning at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
"The most exciting thing is where we get to next,” Waller said. “He'll be heading towards a Group 1 race, and I'd like to think he gets to the Australian Guineas. From a timing perspective, I thought running today would open up a few more options and give us a bit more time up our sleeve.
"He'll (Sixties) be heading towards a Group 1 race, and I'd like to think he gets to the Australian Guineas." - Chris Waller
"That's a great start today."
Sales: Sold by Vinery Stud at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Sixties was a $350,000 purchase for ARAMCO Racing.
Pedigree: As well as being a full to dual Group 1 winner Artorius, Sixties is out of Gracie’s Lass (Redoute’s Choice), a half-sister to G1 Darley Classic winner Delectation (Shamardal {USA}) out of Listed-winning, Group 1-performed Grace And Power (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}).
Anthony Freedman Racing and Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA) bought Sixties’ Pinatubo (Ire) half-brother at this year’s Magic Millions sale for $120,000. Gracie’s Lass had a colt by Pierata in the spring before visiting Toronado (Ire).
Wrote To Arataki bounces back to score second Bellmaine
Three years after she won the G3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes for the first time, 7-year-old Wrote To Arataki (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) returned to Caulfield for a fourth straight year running to claim the event for a second time on Saturday, much to the delight of trainer and part-owner Matthew Williams.
Hitting the front in the home turn, the mare fended off a late attack by Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) to maintain a one length lead on the line, with Bossy Benita (So You Think {NZ}) in third.
“She's done a great job and she's been so sound all the way through,” Williams said. “She had a couple of little viruses there in the spring and we just couldn't get her back right, so we opted to pull up stumps.
“She's (Wrote To Arataki) done a great job and she's been so sound all the way through.” - Matthew Williams
“The owners have been very patient and were happy to do that, and then we've just set her for this race, which has been a great kick-off to her autumn in previous preparations. She always runs a pretty cheeky race in the Bellmaine.”
The mare will next attempt to repeat her 2025 triumph in the G3 Frances Tressady Stakes in a fortnight’s time.
Wrote To Arataki (NZ) winning the G3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It's a good mare's program for her,” Williams said. “She's not a good traveller, so we don't look to go anywhere interstate, and mares are very well catered for here in Victoria. She loves these 1400-metre and 1600-metre races, so it just works well and they’re on your back door.”
Sales: Bred by Noelene Bishop, Wrote To Arataki was a private purchase for the Williams stable with Phil Cataldo acting as agent after her first trial.
Pedigree: Wrote To Arataki is the first foal and first winner out of dual winning Align mare Galloping Gerte (NZ), from the extended family of Don Eduardo (NZ), Viking Ruler, and G1 Australian Guineas winner Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth). A yearling full brother to Wrote To Arataki was sold for NZ$200,000 at the recent New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale to John Foote Bloodstock.
Matthew Williams after Wrote To Arataki (NZ) won the G3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Ultimate Habit aiming to be Leica Lucy after Lowlands win
Last year, Robbie Patterson threaded the needle from the G2 Lowlands Stakes to the G1 New Zealand Oaks with Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn), and the trainer will attempt the same feat this season with Ultimate Habit (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}) after the filly took out the Lowlands at Trentham on Saturday.
The filly broke through to score her maiden victory in the Group 2 event, displaying a strong turn of foot in the closing stages to run down her opposition and beat Ariadne (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) by a length.
“We are definitely going to go to the Oaks on that,” Patterson said. “It is going to be a lot trickier going the other way around at Ellerslie, but she is such a laidback filly.
"We are definitely going to go to the Oaks on that." - Robbie Patterson
“Gryllysy (Craig Grylls) rode her a peach, got her in a good rhythm, and the horse had a good turn of foot.”
Ultimate Habit winning the G2 Lowlands Stakes | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images)
Sales: Ultimate Habit is a homebred for her connections, the Roddick family.
Pedigree: Ultimate Habit is the only runner out of winning Bachelor Duke (USA) mare Queen’s Habit (NZ), whose dam is a half-sister to Rough Habit (NZ) (Roughcast {USA}) himself. Her sisters have also produced dual Group 3 winner Decorah (NZ) (Pins) and G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas victress Molly Bloom (NZ) (Ace High).
Sghirripa returns to top form in Durbridge victory
A 6-year-old son of the late Lonhro, Sghirripa secured an eighth career victory on Saturday in the Listed Durbridge Stakes at Morphettville, which was also a first win in two years since he took out the G3 Standish Handicap in its old position in February 2024. The gelding, trained by Shane and Cassie Oxlade, arrived at the Listed event fresh and ready to bounce out of the gates to a third black-type win after the race was postponed from last week.
Eventual runner-up Klabel (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) looked the winner at the top of the straight, but Sghirripa kicked hard to get in front and fend off a late charge from Great Maximus (Magnus) to win by half a length.
It was not just a return to form and a prizemoney boost that takes his earnings to over $700,000, but also a huge victory for jockey Campbell Rawiller, securing the first black-type win of his career.
Sales: Francesco Sghirripa went to $70,000 to secure Sghirripa at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Grenville Stud.
Pedigree: Sghirripa is one of four winners from four runners for Wonder I Do (Encosta De Lago), a half-sister to Listed winners Albumin (Foxwedge) and Holy Empire (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). His second dam is the G1 VRC Oaks and G1 1000 Guineas victress Tristanagh (Sir Tristram {Ire}).
Wonder I Do had a colt by Shinzo born in 2025, and was subsequently covered by Zoustar.
